Table for holding a recording-surface while finger-print impressions are registered thereon.



P. RYAN.

A RECORDING SURFACE WHILE FINGER PRINT IMPRESSIONS ARE TABLE FOR HOLDING REGISTERED THEREON.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a, 1915.

Patented sepn. 19,1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK RYAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TABLE FOR HOLDING A RECORDING-SURFACE WHILE FINGER-PRINT IMPRESSIONS ARE REGISTERED TI-IEREON.

Application filed September 8, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK RYAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tables for Holding a Recording-Surface While Finger- Print Impressions are Registered Thereon, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a temporary binding or holding device for cards, sheets and other recording surfaces on which data are to be preserved, and particularly finger prints used for identification purposes, the object of the invention being to provide a simple and easily-manipulated stand or table on which the cards or sheets may be placed and temporarily held during the process of applying the fingers thereto for the purpose of making the prints or impressions of the lines of the fingers, the fingers having previously been inked in some suitable way.

The invention, therefore, consists essentially in the combination with a table top of clamping means for holding a card or paper sheet thereon, and shielding means for bending said card or sheet over the edge of the table so that only a small portion thereof will rest on the table and be exposed to the printing operation, while the balance of the sheet will be deflected underneath the table out of the way where it will not be in any danger of being injured by tearing or smutting; and the invention also consists essentially in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and then more particularly pointed out in the claims. y,

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention: Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved paper holding table; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

1 designates a base or foot for the table, the same having a central screw-threaded boss 3 into which is screwed a vertical standard 2, the upper end of which has a part 7 of reduced diameter, between which and the standard 2 is a shoulder 20.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Serial No. 49,522.

4 denotes the table top which is an ordinary fiat or plain surface of metal, wood, or other material. It is provided on its underside with a socket 5 which receives the upper end 7 of the standard 2, said socket 5 resting on shoulder 20 and being clamped in any desired position of rotation by means of the clamping screw 6 passing through the side of the socket 5 and binding against the part 7. Obviously the table 4 may be of any desired shape and size, either rectangular, round or other shape, and the standard 2 may have any desired length so as to carry the top 4 at the desired height.

Superposed above the table 4 is a transverse bar 8 which is adapted to rest upon a card or sheet of paper that may lie on the surface of the table 4 to clamp the same, and also is adapted to be released when desired from said sheet or card. The clamping bar 8 is carried by the links 9, which are pivotally attached by means of pivots 15 to the ears 16, which are secured to the bar 8 near the ends thereof. Said links 9 extend rearwardly from the bar 8 toward the rear edge of the table 4: and are pivoted by means of pivot pins 14 to standards 13 secured rigidly on the table 4 near the rear edge thereof. Suitable spiral springs are attached to pins 21 projecting from the standards 13 and also to pins 22 fastened to the'links 9 at suitable points thereof, so that these pins have the function of holding the links 9 either in the reversed position, shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 2, or in the active position shown in full lines in the same figure, in which latter position the bar 8 is in clamping position on the sheet or paper, being so held in such position for the time being by the action of the springs 10 drawing upon the links 9, and thus exerting a pressure on the bar 8 which is communicated to a sheet or card for the purpose of clamping it temporarily on the table 1 near the front edge thereof where it will be in position to permit the printing operating of pressing the inked fingers thereon to be performed.

Viewing the device as it is represented in Fig. 1 and assuming that the card or sheet on which a record of impressions is to be made lies thereon near the front edge thereof and is temporarily held by the clamping bar 8, it will be understood how the previously inked fingers of a subject may be applied to the card or sheet and the proper impression of the finger prints perfectly registered thereon. The clamping bar 8, it will be noticed, is provided on its front edge with certain notches or recesses which adapt it specially to serve as a guide and positioning means for thefingers of the subject, It is commonly the case that a sheet is used on which various rows of impressions are to be made, and, hence, it is desirable to readjust the position of the sheet after the printing of the impressions of the fingers of one hand, and also to keep the unused part of the paper free from contact with ink or anything else which might deface it while the impressions are being taken; and, hence, I bend a portion of the sheet over the edge of the table and turn it underneath the same toward the standard 2 and out of the way. In order that the sheet may be so deflected, I use the shield or deflector 17 consisting of an angular sheet of metal occupying an inclined position beneath the edge of the table 4, as shown in Fig. 2. This deflector 17 is provided with a projection 23 near one end, which is attached to the underside of the table 4 by means of a set screw 18, and with a slotted projection 26 at the other end having a set screw 19. By loosening the set screw 19 the deflector 17 may be shifted on the other set screw 18 acting as a pivot from a position parallel to the edge of the table to a position angular thereto, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which latter position the sheet of paper may be bent over the edge of the table and thrust behind the inclined deflector 17, which can then return to its parallel position and the clamping screw 19 again fastened tightly into position so that the portion of the paper card or sheet which is not in use will be kept down beneath the table and out of the way of any injury. This device will be found very etficient and desirable in enabling the card or sheet to be kept clean and yet to expose successive portions of its surface from time to time for the printing of impressions, because it will be noted that as soon as one row of impressions has been made and a portion of "the card has thus been used, the deflector 17 can be opened and the clamping bar 8 raised to allow a replacing of the card or sheet in the new position to receive a new set of impressions on a fresh portion of its surface, after which the parts will be clamped on the sheet as before, and the subject will apply his fingers to the fresh part of the sheet and the record made in like manner as before.

I find it convenient to provide the top of the table 4 on its opposite edges alongside of the links 9 with permanent pencil holders 11 which may be used or not, as preferred, and which may vary in shape and function within wide limits.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a table top and means for supporting the same, of a clamp for holding a paper sheet or other surface on said top, said clamp having its front edge formed with notches to enable it to serve as a guide and positioning means for the fingers of the subject, and a shield or deflector for turning a portion of the sheet underneath the edge of the table.

2. In a device of theclass described, the combination with a table, means for supporting it, a clamp adjustable relatively to the surface of the table for holding an article thereon, said clamp having its front edge notched to serve as a guide for the fingers of the subject, spring-provided means for holding the clamp in its position against the table and also in its reversed position, and a pivoted shield arranged contiguous to the edge of the table for turning a. part of the clamped article underneath said edge to protect it from injury.

3. The combination with a table top, of a clamp operating to hold an article on the surface of said top, said clamp having its front edge provided with notches to enable it to serve as a guide and positioning means for the fingers of the subject, and an inclined pivoted deflecting shield movable relatively to the edge of the table for the purpose of turning the clamped article over said edge and protecting a portion of the same from injury.

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a table, a clamping bar thereon, said clamping bar being provided with notches to enable it to serve as a guide and positioning means for the fingers of the subject, links pivoted to said bar and also at the rear of the table, springs connected to the links and to stationary points on the table and operating to hold the clamping bar in its clamping position or in its reversed or idle position, and a deflecting shield supported near the edge of the table and movable relatively to: said edge, said shield having the function of holding a portion of the article that is supported on the table in a position underneath the edge of the same where it will be free from injury.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a table top, of a shield or deflector consisting of an angular member occupying an inclined position beneath the edge of the table, means for pivoting one end of said deflector to the table so that it may be shifted from a position parallel to the edge of the table to a position angular thereto, and means for clamping the deflector in its position parallel to the edge of the table, said deflector being for the purpose of deflecting a part of a card or sheet underneath the top of the table so as top said clamp having its front edge to protect it from injury While the other formed With notches to enable it to serve part is receiving its impressions. as a guide and positioning means for the 10 6. In a device of the class desorlbed, the fingers of the SllbJGCt.

5 combination with a table top and means for In testimony whereof I aflix my signasupporting the same, of a clamp for holdture.

ing a paper sheet or other surface on said PATRICK RYAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent, Washington, D. G. 

